Design Ready Controls (DRC)
Founded in 1989, Design Ready Controls, Inc. (DRC) is the premier supplier of control panel solutions for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Our engineering and operational expertise combined with advanced technology innovation provides true competitive advantages for our customers. These advantages include reduced costs, improved quality, improved delivery lead times and faster speed to market. Our headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota with manufacturing locations throughout North America that best serve our customers. Our commitment to technology, innovation, operational excellence and customer responsiveness has allowed us to more than double our business in a challenging economic environment.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Monitoring and Testing
- Market Focus:
- Internationally (various countries)
- Year Founded:
- 1989
Welcome
Driven by Data. Defined by Innovation.
Design Ready Controls is unique among control panel manufacturers. With engineering expertise, proprietary processes, and advanced production facilities, we provide competitive advantages in product quality, speed to market, and cost management. We make it easy for you to do business with us.
- Paperless manufacturing processes provide instantaneous updates at any point.
- Comprehensive supply chain management increases production efficiency and reduces cost.
- Process controls improve quality, manage variability and guarantee operational excellence.
- Internal systems help accelerate sales, engineering and manufacturing processes.
- Customers have real-time, online access to panel build documentation, test data, photos, and component ordering capabilities.
What We Make
We design and build products that are specified and branded by other firms. We provide engineering and manufacturing services to customers in multiple industries—including HVAC and building technology, water treatment and pumping, oil and gas, solar power, agriculture, packaging, alternative energy and charging infrastructures, and semiconductors.
- OEM Control Panels
- Custom Control Panels
- Low Voltage Control Panels
- Medium Voltage Control Panels
- Enclosed Drive Packages
How We Work
We offer every level of support in design, engineering, and manufacturing. Our data-driven processes and advanced production facilities provide measurable benefits:
- Vendor Management: We deal with all the suppliers required for a typical panel.
- Warranty Savings: We take responsibility for the workmanship and components of the controls.
- Cost Clarity: We track the true costs of producing each control panel.
- UL Compliance Listing: We manage UL responsibility and handle quarterly audits.
- Automation Advantages: We apply technology where it delivers the greatest return in production and ERP.
- Variable Capacity: We can help you manage the impact of product development, seasonal trends, and other factors, providing personnel and materials to meet your needs.
How You Benefit
Our proprietary systems give you competitive benefits in lead times, speed to market and logistics. Here are some examples:
- Automated Manufacturing Expert (AME®) uses paperless production processes for instantaneous updates and immediate feedback.
- Automated Panel Expert (APE®) accelerates the sales, engineering and manufacturing process from quotation to remittance.
- Engineered to order (ETO) processes allow us to improve quality, manage variability, and guarantee operational excellence.
- Advanced manufacturing technologies including Komax and Schleuniger wire processing equipment, Perforex machine tools, and our automated testing system — improve accuracy and quality while reducing build times.
- Our information portal provides real time, online access to panel build documentation, test data, photos, and component ordering capabilities.
An Original Design Manufacturer
Design Ready Controls leads the control panel industry in engineering capabilities, process efficiencies, national presence and responsive service.
Why We Are Different
All our internal systems and process improvements help us provide superior results and service for you. Our engineers will collaborate with you to create the best designs for your needs. We follow best practices in supply chain management, with three locations around the country to help you meet the most demanding productivity goals.
- We follow and establish best practices in supply chain management to create advantages for you.
- Our paperless manufacturing systems allow us to create custom control documentation at any point.
- Process controls improve quality, manage variability and guarantee operational excellence.
- Internal systems help accelerate business-to-business, engineering, and manufacturing processes.
- Customers have real-time, online access to panel build status, archived documentation, test data, photos, and component ordering capabilities.
Superior Facilities
Our headquarters building and central production facility is in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Built in 2015, it covers 110,000 square feet and is optimized for productivity. It replaces three separate locations used for engineering, warehousing and production. This minimizes the time and effort needed to take a project from conception to completion. With underground radiant heating, diffused air flow, color-balanced LED lighting, bright walls and clean floors, our facility provides a safe, comfortable place for all employees. Most office spaces in this building receive natural light, and the production floor gets fifty percent more light than an average office. We planted the surrounding landscape with a variety of native grasses, shrubs and trees to minimize the need for fertilizers, irrigation and other grounds maintenance.
Engaged Employees
Many of our systems are automated. We shift routine tasks to machines so employees can do more interesting and creative work. A physical trainer often visits headquarters to lead sessions in movement and balance — helping employees stay flexible and avoid injuries while focusing on detailed work that requires close attention. Our employees have opportunities to learn new skills and train for other jobs within the company. We provide incentives for them to continue their education, and often hire for new positions from within our existing staff. We always look for interested and capable candidates. We regularly visit educational institutions to find people who can help create the next generation of processes and products.
Advantages
Data-driven processes provide operational benefits for us—and market advantages for you. Between proprietary expert systems and advanced automation, we offer a combination of quality and value no other manufacturer can match.
Expert Systems
Automated Manufacturing Expert (AME®) provides paperless, instantaneous updates and immediate feedback, reducing or eliminating communication delays between engineering and manufacturing.
Automated Panel Expert (APE®) automates the engineered-to-order (ETO) process, streamlines configuration and quotations, drives our automated manufacturing processes, and eliminates the potential for human error.
We believe technology should improve accuracy, maintain quality, and reduce build times. So we use machines for jobs that are too heavy, repetitive, fast, or tedious for people. For example, our Komax and Schleuniger wire processing equipment handle printing, stripping, crimping, plugging, and cutting to length, but our employees control the machines and ensure their accuracy.
With integrated CNC equipment driven by engineering data, we can customize stock components to meet your needs while reducing build times and logistics costs. And our information portal provides real time, online access to panel build documentation, test data, photos, and component ordering capabilities.
Where We Are Going
Design Ready Controls was incorporated in 1989. Our headquarters building is in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and we have manufacturing facilities located throughout North America to best serve our customers. We are committed to operational excellence, customer responsiveness, technology, and innovation. We are focused on building control panels and wiring products. Over the past 10 years, our sales have grown at an average annual rate of 20 percent. We sustain that growth through advanced process controls, skilled and dedicated employees, and thoughtful investments in automation.
Our manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Virginia allow us to complete and deliver projects within reach of any OEM in the United States. As business volume grows, we are prepared to build new facilities anywhere the market demands.
At every location, we use an integrated ERP system to manage capacity planning and track build times. Our adoption of 5S methodology has helped us create standardized procedures for any product, meet JIT needs, and optimize process flow.